It is only day four, 2019 is still young. At the end of 365 days, I like to review my success and failures, learning and growth. I assess goals that went undone, enjoy the lingering glow of goals achieved and decide which goals I will roll forward. I take no shame in rolling goals forward – they remain important, and with refocus and attention they may be achieved. It is more than hope – it is a way to keep goals face forward.

Two of the best goals I set from last year and successfully achieved will make the list this year, reading one book (and for voracious readers, this is not impressive in any way), and making one writing submission monthly. I enjoyed some great reads (several listed below), and received the best-ever rejection email. The publisher took time to send a personalized rejection to communicate that my poem almost made the cut, to recommend other places to submit and share very specific feedback on ways to improve the piece, and when I asked, she offered to do a line-by-line edit. I have never been so graciously rejected!

With all possibilities for 2019, I set my goals a few weeks ago. I have consistently used the SMART model for goal setting in my personal and instructional lives. I like acronyms I can remember – Specific, Measureable, Attainable, Realistic and Time Bound. These days, I am excited about HARD, a framework I read about on Forbes.com. Mark Murphy writes succinctly in his article, HARD Goals, NOT SMART Goals Are The Key To Career Development (June 11, 2017). While career focused, I believe this framework can be applied to personal goal setting. HARD goals are Heartfelt, Animated, Required, and Difficult.

I was immediately engaged with Heartfelt. If a goal isn’t connected to my essence, spirit or soul, why bother? Animated, if I am not excited about a goal, how can I muster energy or attention for working toward it? If a goal isn’t Required, essential to my evolution or growth as a human, why does it matter? How does meeting that goal add to my satisfaction or happiness? If a goal doesn’t push me, or foster growth, how is it Difficult? If I don’t learn anything, what is the value of the goal?

My HARD goals for 2019

Reach weight goal (Yes the magic number that does not indicate state of health or fitness – I am working on less focus on the scale – the challenges with my relationship with gravity is real)

Learn Hawaiian (I will return to this spiritual place – it calls me)
Submit monthly (Get published)
Read a book a month (I have started reading A Life Full of Glitter: A Guide to Positive Thinking, Self-Acceptance and Finding Your Sparkle in a (Sometimes) Negative World, Anna O’Brien – I was captured at Glitter)

Go to NYC monthly (Expand social circle)
Complete a 5K (I am not fast, but I made my 2018 minute per mile goal)
Find Him (This will require elaboration at another time, but it is heartfelt for sure)

Whether SMART or HARD, set goals that require effort, improve your life, and make your heart sing! Make 2019 the best ever! Every blessing to you this New Year…

• Good Reads from 2018:
  The Cement Garden, Ian McEwan; A Man Called Ove: A Novel, Fredrick Backman; Away, Amy Bloom

https://www.forbes.com/sites/markmurphy/2017/06/11/hard-goals-not-smart-goals-are-the-key-to-career-development/#1f8fd49b70fb